Changeable sign



May 14, 1929. P. KLlMowlcz CHANGEABL SIGN Filed Oct. 28, 1927 f if 6.

Digi.

INVENTOR ff? @I4/658, BW W ATTORNEY Patented May 14, i929.

UNITED STATES PAUL KLMOWICZ, 0F STEVENS POINT, WUISCONSIN.

CHANGEABLE SlGN.

Application fileclictober 28, 1.927. ,Serial No. 229,464-

The invention generally relates to signs of the changeable letter or character type, and primarily has for its object to provide a new and improved sign structure of neat appearance and readily changeable as regards its displayed indicia, with a minimum of effort and in a manner eliminating the display of unsightly mounting holes, grooves or other recesses. s

In its more detailed nature the invention has for its object to provide a sign of the type stated comprising a sign body includ! ing a relatively soft prick camouflaging filler body having good retaining qualif. .,s, and suitable sign display characters each having spaced mount-ing prongs insertible into the liller body and so spaced uniformly relatively to the vertical dimensions of the said characters that when they are positioned in alignment, alignment of the characters is assured. i

lVith the above and other objects in view that Will hereinafter appear, the invention still further resides in the novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which Willbe first fully described, then be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which :m

Figure l is a face view of an assembled sign.

Figure 2 is an enlarged. cross section of an edge portion of the sign.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a dislnounted character.

Figure 4l is an edge view of a dismounted character,

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are detail perspective views illustrating several forms of mounting prongs.

In carrying out the principles of my invention I provide a sign board body l o l" any suitable material such as tin plate, wood or Wall board but preferably the latter because of its economical nature and. being free from tendency to Warp. The edges of the body l may be beveled at 2 if desired and the edges of said board are provided with an upstanding border strip 3 preferably of harder material such as Wood or straw board and which serves to provide and deline a depression in which provided a lilloibody 4.- of soft material having good prongretaining qualities for a purpose later to be described. The filler body may be built up of any suitable material such cottfm bat-M ting, felt, special blotting paper, or paper mill Wood pulp, and has the exposed face thereof covered with a fabric sheet 5 of a tex-- ture or having the quality of camouflaging prong prielrs and therefore Infoviding for maintaining an unbroken surface presented to view and not marred by holes, grooves, slots or any of the other usual character mounting recur-.ses such as are employed in common types of signs of this character.

The characters of Which the sign is changeably composed are indicated at (5 and it is to be understood that these characters comprise letters, numerals, punctuation maries, and fancy designs of various sizes, shapes and styles such. as are usually employed in the building up of changeable signs.

Each character G is provided with a pair of prongs 7 projecting from the rear face thereof and having their heads embedded in the body of the characters as at 8, the letters preferably being constructed of` cast inetal or other suitable material such as Will provide a neat appearance and for the convenient molding of the prongs headsl therein when the characters are being formed. is will be observed by reference to liligures Il and l of the drawings the prongs bear spaced relation in and project from the charaetew and also bear fixed relalf on with the upper and loWer limits of the letters so Athat when. the prongs are arranged in alignment, such aligmnent of the prongs will assure the desired alignment of the char-antena.

Between the fabric covering and pruzlr camouflaging sheet 5 and the filler body el mount a thin sheet of still, strong paper Sl 'which not only serves to hold the filler in shape and against tendency to bulge in places, but also to more elliciently retain the letter mounting prongs when the letters are in ou n te d.

It will also be observed by reference to Figures 2, /l and 5 of the drawings that the prongs carried by each letter are uneven in length, one being a long mounting prong for deeply penetrating the sign board to secure the letter, and the other being` a very short prong adapted to penetrate tho sheet 5 only and serving merely to hold the letter against turning about the mounting point. The prongs are preferably united at their en'ibedded ends to form U-shaped members but may be separate and constructed as inflieated in Figures G and il' desiredIJ prongs also serve to prevent any tendency of the characters to pivot on their mounting and become mis-aligned. B making the s prongs uneven in length as described the full quality of stabilizing the letters against turningl is acquired While making but a sinit relates.

gle prick in the board proper to mount each letter. Obviously this feature substantially doubles the life `of the sign board.

Also, byV providing the strong paper under-sheet the'neat appearance of the sign is better retained over a long period and it is possible to employ a cheaper grade of filler body material Without sacrificing efficiency in the Way of letters holding quality.

From the Aforegoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, itis thoughtAV that the novell details of construction, the manner of use and the advantages offmy invention Will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which What I claimV is: 1 Y

y 1. Ay sign of the character described comprising a body, an upstanding border edge forming a` depression Within its confines, a

soft filler in the depression, a fabric sheet covering the exposed face of the filler and having prong prick hiding qualities, a sheet of thin relatively stiff paper interposed between the fabric sheet and the soft filler, and sign forming characters having mounting prongs removably embedded in the filler.

2. A sign of the character described coina prising a body, an opstanding border edge forming a. depression within its conlincs, a soft filler in the depression, a fabric shect covering the exposed face of the liller and having prong prick hiding qualities, a sheet of thin relatively stiff paper interposed between the fabric sheet and the soft filler, and sign forming characters having mounting prongs removably embedded in the filler, said fabric sheet surrounding the marginal edges of said filler and extending beneath the filler to be in engagement with said body and its border edge.

3. A sign of the character described com prising a body, an upstandin border edge forming a depression within lts confines, a soft filler in the depression, a. fabric sheet covering the exposed face of the filler and having prong prick hiding qualities, a sheet of thin relatively still paper interposed hctween the fabric sheet and the soft filler, sign forming characters having mounting prongs removably embedded in the filler, each of said characters prongs comprising a long one and a short one, the long prong being of a length substantially equal to the combined thickness of said filler, said fabric and said paper sheet, and the short prong being of a length substantially equal to the thickness ci mid fabric.

PAUL KLIMOWICZ. 

